India triumph at Commonwealth Games

India have triumphed in one of the most eagerly anticipated contests of the Commonwealth Games so far, beating Pakistan 7-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Men’s Hockey competition.

Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh and Shivendra Singh both scored twice as India took the must-win Pool A match and set up a semi-final match with England.

Under pressure to perform at a packed Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, India completely dominated Pakistan in the first 30 minutes of the match by scoring four goals.

Sandeep was the star performer, converting two penalty corners and then setting up another for Shivendra.

Sarwanjit Singh, Danish Mujataba and Dharamvir Singh all ensured their names were on the score sheet, as India emerged comfortable victors.

India will now take on Pool B winners England in the semi-finals on Tuesday, while world champions Australia will face New Zealand.

Around the Games

Over at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium Manju Wanniarachchi won Sri Lanka their first Commonwealth Games boxing medal in 60 years.

Defeating Kenya’s Nicholas Okoth to move into the Bantamweight semi-finals, he said: “I am so happy that I am not able to explain anything.

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“I will give my best in the next bout.”

He will now take on Botswana’s Tirafalo Seoko, who beat Namibia’s Sakaria Lukas.

In diving, Canada took two of three gold medals on the first day of competition at the Mukherjee Swimming Stadium.

Alexandre Despatie won his third straight title in the Men’s 1m Springboard to become the country’s most decorated Commonwealth athlete. The victory takes his personal medal haul to seven, surpassing the six won by Canada’s rhythmic gymnast Alexandra Orlando and swimmer Graham Smith.

Jennifer Abel and Emilie Heymans earlier took the Women’s 3m Synchro title while Australia’s Melissa Wu and Alexandra Croak went one better than their silver in Melbourne to win the 10m Synchro.

World Travel Awards

Will the Commonwealth Games now entering the second, successful, week, attention is turning to the next event on the international calendar – the arrival of the World Travel Awards in Delhi.

The star-studded event will be held on October 14th at The Claridges Surajkund, Delhi, with the elite of the Asian and Australasian tourism industry in attendance.